13 City Highlights

Edinburgh city highlights ...

GREY FRIARS BOBBY LYCEUM THEATRE

No visit is complete without rubbing the nose of Edinburgh’s most famous canine companion! The story is legend and you can find Bobby’s statue just across the street from The National Museum Of Scotland. Once you have found him make sure you visit Greyfriar’s Kirk and graveyard where history abounds as well as amazing views of Edinburgh Castle from different photographic angle.

USHER HALL

Lothian Road 0131 228 1155 www.usherhall.co.uk The Usher Hall is one of the most outstanding performance halls in the world. The Usher is Edinburgh’s key venue for visiting national and international orchestras and has been the main venue for the Edinburgh International festival since 1947.

SCOTT MONUMENT

Princes Street Gardens 0131 52 4068 www.edinburgh.gov.uk Located on princes Street and dominating the landscape the Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world commemorating Sir. Walter Scott. The monument is open from April to September and offers amazing views from the top across the city skyline. 30b Grindlay Street. (off Lothian Road) 0131 248 4848 www.lyceum.org.uk The Lyceum is one of Scotland’s largest and most successful producing companies. The main output is drama during the September to May period. The theatre is also host to touring companies and entertainment during The Edinburgh International Festival shows.

THE MUSSEL INN

61-65 Rose Street 0131 225 5979 www.mussel-inn.com Visit The Mussel inn seafood restaurant on Rose Street, just one block from Princes Street, and enjoy delicious, fresh seafood and other selections at affordable prices while watching Edinburgh’s city centre hustle and bustle after a full day of sightseeing.

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

18-22 Greenside Lane 0131 524 3333 www.atgtickets.com Located at the top of Leith walk the Edinburgh Playhouse is famous for hosting popular plays and musicals plus other big acts when they come to town. Some of the biggest names in show business have played here. It’s a must visit venue.

THE STAND COMEDY CLUB

5 York Place (just off St. Andrew’s Square) 01310131 558 7272 www.thestand.co.uk Built into a basement of a Georgian tenement on the edge of the new town, The Stand is an intimate space with a superb atmosphere. All of the biggest names in comedy make The Stand their venue of choice and so should you. Open seven nights, including a free Sunday lunchtime improv show. Food and bar available at pub, not club prices!

THE EDINBURGH DUNGEON

31 Market Street 0131 240 1001 www.thedungeons.com The ultimate thrill filled journey through Scotland’s past. 11 live shows, and 80 minutes of laughter, screaming, theatre, history and special effects. The black comedy of attractions; dark, ironic and very very funny.

VAPIANO

7 South St. David Street EH2 2BD 0131 285 6123 www.vapiano.com A fresh, vibrant Italian pizzeria, restaurant and bar right in the heart of the city serving the finest fresh produce and beautifully prepared wood oven pizzas and wonderful pasta dishes with guests enjoying face-to-face interactions with chefs as they cook their dish to order, exactly as they like it.

THE DOME

14 George Street 0131 624 8624 www.thedomeedinburgh.com Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town since 1996 The Dome is well known to many as a stunning bar and restaurant. It has become established as a first choice venue to meet friends and colleagues for coffee, cocktails, lunch or dinner.

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

20 George Street 0131 260 3000 www.hardrock.com Celebrating over 15 years in the city, The Hard Rock welcomes you with the style and mantra of Love All Serve All. Enjoy great music, fine cocktails and Hard Rock’s world famous burgers and other food selections. Indulge yourself or buy great presents to take home from the retail store.

CAFÉ ROUGE

43 Frederick Street 0131 225 4515 www.caferouge.co.uk Conveniently located minutes from Princes Street and yards from George Street, Café Rouge is an ideal spot to relax over a coffee, lunch with friends or indulge with an intimate dinner and enjoy watching life in Edinburgh throughout the day.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND

Chambers Street 0300 123 6789 www.nms.ac.uk Explore the diversity of the natural world, world cultures, art and design, science and technology and Scottish history, all under one roof at the National Museum of Scotland. The museum of open daily and admission is free.

PRINCES MALL SHOPPING CENTRE

Princes Street & Waverley Bridge 0131 558 9111 www.princesmall-edinburgh.co.uk Princes mall Shopping centre is a high quality centre hosting a great variety of top brand stores as well as an extensive and inexpensive dining area. The centre is conveniently located at on the south side of princes Street and next to Waverley Railway Station.

WAGAMAMA

Castle Terrace (Lothian Road) 0131 229 5506 www.wagamama.com Delicious noodles, rice dishes, salads and freshly squeezed juices all brought together in a vibrant busy restaurant makes Wagamama a great family destination.

CALTON HILL

A short walk from Prince’s Street brings you to carlton Hill and some truly outstanding Edinburgh views. Some of the best photographs of your trip will be taken as you walk up to the top and admire both the wider cityscape but also te stunning view towards Leith and the River Forth.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY

The Mound 0131 624 6200 www.nationalgalleries.org The gallery has an amazing permanent collect and even more amazing, entry is free. The gallery is located right at the bottom of The Mound in the centre of Prince’s Street and a short walk from Waverly Station and minutes from The Royal Mile.

CHAOPHRAYA, EDINBURGH

4th Floor. 33 Castle St. EH2 3DN 0131 634 0023. www.chaophraya.co.uk/Edinburgh/ Located in the heart of the city a few minutes walk from Prince’s Street and boasting stunning rooftop views this stunning restaurant blends contemporary Thai design with an impressive modern interior design to create some of the best private dining and meeting spaces in the city. Combine with truly authentic culinary themes inspired by Thailand you will love every minute of your visit to Chaophraya!

Edinburgh Old Town ...

The Old Town is the name popularly given to the oldest part of Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. It is a protected World Heritage Site and has preserved its medieval street plan.

The street layout is especially picturesque in Edinburgh, where the castle perches on top of a rocky crag, the remnants of an extinct volcano and the main street runs down the crest of a ridge, known as the Royal Mile. This is a superb example of a “crag and tail” landform, which was created during the last Ice Age. The hilltop crag was the earliest part of the city to be developed, which eventually became Edinburgh Castle.

The Royal Mile is the main route in the Old Town, which runs downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Notable buildings in the Old Town include St. Giles’ Cathedral, the Royal Museum of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. This area has numerous underground streets and vaults.

The Old Town became home to some of the earliest “high rise” residential buildings, due to space restrictions caused by the narrowness of the Royal Mile. During the Edinburgh Festival, the High Street and Hunter Square become gathering points where performers of the Fringe advertise their shows.

The upper section of the Royal Mile is known as the Lawnmarket. Fascinating side alleys or closes, lead off on either side and are well worth exploring. Look out for Lady Stairs’s Close, where Robert Burns lived and also the site of the Writer’s Museum, which celebrates Burns together with Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

On approaching the Castle, there is a grand forecourt area. This is used for the Military Tattoo during the Festival. At other times, it offers splendid views across much of the city, as well as being the site of some fine statues.

EDINBURGH CASTLE

Castlehill 0131 225 9846 www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk Edinburgh’s most visited attraction, the castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and its story has shaped the nation’s history. Home to the one o’clock gun and many historic artefacts, the castle attracts thousands of visitors every year. Top tip is to book your tickets online and get Fast Tracked at no extra cost.

PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE

Canongate. Royal Mile 0131 556 5100 www.royalcollection.org.uk The Palace of Holyroodhouse or as it is more commonly know, Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of The Queen in Scotland. Flying of the Royal Standard indicates whether The Queen is at home, but the Palace itself remains open throughout the year and is an interesting and enlightening visit.

History, Ghosts, Parliament, Castle, Tours, Whisky ...

WHISKI

119 High Street 0131 556 3095 www.whiskibar.co.uk Whiski is a stunning multi award winning whisky bar and restaurant on the Royal Mile. Whiski serves fresh, locally sourced seafood, lamb, beef and venison and has a selection of over 300 malt whiskies to keep any connoisseur happy!

BELLA ITALIA

55 North Bridge 0131 225 2044 www.bellaitalia.co.uk Drop by for a warm welcome and delicious, homely Italian food. We’re brilliantly located on the corner of the Royal Mile & North Bridge – just yards from St. Giles Cathedral and a short walk from Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse..

THE JAZZ BAR

1a Chambers Street 0131 220 4298 www.thejazzbar.co.uk For something more relaxed and entertaining why not visit The Jazz Bar. Operated by locally based jazz drummer and organiser Bill Kyle, this venue brings to Edinburgh some of the best names in Jazz throughout the year. Classic jazz atmosphere with a great bar and nightly music programme.

THE HUB CAFÉ & RESTAURANT

0131 473 2000 www.thehub-edinburgh.com The Hub, an iconic Edinburgh landmark, towers above the heart of the city dominating the skyline of the Royal Mile. The Hub’s interior pulsates with colour, full of style and verve. Food is served all day and the menu is packe fine use of locally produced ingredients.

CAMERA OBSCURA & WORLD OF ILLUSIONS

Castle Hill, Royal Mile 0131 226 3709 www.camera-obscura.co.uk Located right next to Edinburgh Castle. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is the only spot in Edinburgh where you can explore the whole city without even leaving the room! Five floors of fascinating, interactive, hands-on exhibits. Where 21st -century tech meets classic illusions and historic science. It’s a great day out.

FRANKENSTEIN’S BAR & RESTAURANT

26 George IV Bridge 0131 622 1818 www.frankensteinedinburgh. com Three floors, three bars & one monster! They have great food, a lively atmosphere and every day you can enjoy a one of a kind experience. Lights, music and sound effects accompany the animatronic Frankenstein monster as he descends from the ceiling and awakens!

WHISKI ROOMS & WHISKI SHOP

North bank Street (top of The Mound) 0131 225 7224 www.whiskirooms.co.uk Visit Whiski Rooms (around the corner from The Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle) for a great experience of all day dining. The restaurant serves the very best of Scottish food and drink in stunning surroundings including the Whisky Bar and Ardbeg Embassy Dining Room. Perfect for lunch or dinner after a days sightseeing or why not book a private dining room and enjoy a bespoke, personal dining experience.

ROBERT GRAHAM’S WHISKY SHOP

254 Canongate. Royal Mile 0131 556 2791 www.robertgraham1874.com Located on the Royal Mile, Robert Graham is one of the country’s oldest tobacco and whiskey merchants where expert advice and knowledge about both whiskey and cigars make choosing the right product an enjoyable experience. Enjoy browsing and examining the huge range of branded malts as well as Robert Graham’s own aged bottlings, as well as a fine selection of Cuban cigars.

RABBIE’S TRAIL BURNERS

207 High Street. Royal Mile 0131 226 3133 www.rabbies.com Award winning small group tour company offering guaranteed departures – you book, you go! Touring with a maximum of 16 passengers give you more time to experience the real, authentic Scotland with more time off the bus and with the locals. Book online or walk-in with tours covering one, two or three days.